News

Soccer: WWU women add three more standouts

Western Washington University's women's soccer team beat St. Edwards University 2-0 in the NCAA II quarter finals on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, at Orca Field in Bellingham, Wash. Photo: KPUG/Courtesy of WWU Athletics

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Three standouts, two high school seniors and a four-year transfer, have made decisions to play women’s soccer at Western Washington University this fall. Making that announcement Tuesday was Viking head coach Travis Connell.

The trio includes defender Gabby Brower from Hazen High School, forward Anna DeWeirdt, a sophomore transfer from NCAA Division I University of New Hampshire; and goalkeeper Alyssa Treptow from Flagstaff, Ariz.

Brower was a first-team Seamount League all-star as a senior at Hazen High, helping the Highlanders to the first round of the Class 3A state tournament. She was a second-team all-league pick as a sophomore and junior.

“Gabby (Brower) is a great athlete who can play all over the field,” said Connell. “She is a smart player who knows how to lead.”

DeWeirdt started 13 of 18 games at New Hampshire last fall. She was a second-team Class 4A all-State and first-team KingCo league all-star as a senior at Skyline High School, helping the Spartans to two state championships.

“Anna will make an immediate impact on our team,” Connell said. “She is an extremely fit, talented and hardworking attacking player with Division I experience. She is chomping at the bit to get on the field and contribute.”

Treptow received Division II all-state honorable mention and DII Section V second-team honors as a senior at Flagstaff High School, helping the Eagles to a 14-2 record and the state semifinals. She made 82 saves and posted 11 shutouts despite missing four games with a sprained ankle.

Treptow also was all-state honorable mention as a junior with 14 shutouts for a 14-1 team that reached the state quarterfinals.

“Alyssa is a diamond in the rough,” said Connell. “She is an explosive athlete with great hands, but her best quality is her will to win and be the best player she can be. Her work ethic is second to none.”

WWU finished 20-2-1 last year, the win total being a school record. The Vikings won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title, took the West Regional crown and reached the NCAA II national final four.

In early February, WWU signed four high school seniors to national letters of intent and had two prep seniors accept formal offers of admission.

The NLI signees were midfielder Colleen Lindsay from Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, midfielder Ava Mana’o from Inglemoor High in Kenmore, defender Sierra Shugarts from Decatur High in Federal Way and defender/midfielder Emily Webster from Sehome High in Bellingham. The Klinkenberg twins, defender Abby and forward Lexi, from Kentridge High in Kent accepted admission offers.

Gabby Brower, Defender, Freshman, 5-10, 17, 9/13/96, Newcastle, WA

HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Seamount League all-star as senior at Hazen High School … Team captain, MVP and Coaches Award winner … Helped Highlanders win league title and reach first round of Class 3A state tournament … Had nine assists … First-team all-league and second-team all-state as junior… MVP and Coaches award … Squad tied for league title … Second-team all-league as sophomore and honorable mention as freshman … Started and lettered four years … Also earned four letters in basketball and three in track … Scholar-Athlete award winner twice in all three sports … Plays club soccer for Eastside FC.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in either secondary education or graphic design.

Anna DeWeirdt, Forward, Sophomore, 5-7, 18, 5/15/95, Sammamish, WA

COLLEGE: Transfer from NCAA Division I University New Hampshire … Started 13 of 18 games for Wildcats as freshman in 2013 … Had one goal and one assist … One letter.

HIGH SCHOOL: Second-team Class 4A all-State and first-team KingCo all-star as senior at Skyline High School, helping Spartans to state championship … Team captain and coaches award winner for second straight year … Had seven goals and five assists … Honorable mention all-league on team that won conference and state titles as junior with six goals and one assist … As sophomore, played on team that ranked No.1 nationally, won the conference championship and reached the state semifinals … Started and lettered three years … Played club soccer for Eastside FC ’94 Red from U11 to U18 … Played with Washington State Olympic Development Program … Invited to participate in 2009 iD2 National Training Camp.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in communications.

Alyssa Treptow, Goalkeeper, Freshman, 5-6, 18, 1/8/96, Flagstaff, AZ

HIGH SCHOOL: Division II all-state honorable mention and DII Section V second-team choice as senior at Flagstaff High School … Team captain and team MVP, helping Eagles to 14-2 record and state semifinals … Made 82 saves and posted 11 shutouts despite missing four games with sprained ankle … Honorable mention all-state as junior on team that finished 14-1 and reached state quarterfinals … Had 14 shutouts … Started two games as sophomore on squad that got to first round at state … Lettered three years and started two … Also lettered three years in track as sprinter.

PERSONAL: Plans to major in chemistry … Received academic letters all four years in high school while maintaining 4.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average.